Ghana is vulnerable to extremists attack – WACCE
The West African Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) has advised that the terrorist attack in neighbouring Togo that led to the death of eight soldiers should be a wake-up call to the security agencies.
The centre further lamented that activities of such groups closer to Ghana’s borders pose a major security threat to the country.
According to a report by the WACCE, Ghana is at a high risk of being targeted by terrorists due to protracted chieftaincy disputes and socio-economic challenges in the country.
The centre pointed out that Ghana is saddled with several triggers, making it possible for extremists to take advantage.
Executive Director of WACCE, Mutaru Mumuni Mugthar called for more proactive security interventions.
“We are more vulnerable than the public probably would see or acknowledge, and it is important that we shied away from pretending that we are so insulated from the threat of violent extremism.”
“It is important that we begin to speak in terms that reflect the actual reality we are facing and what we can all do to help prevent it from happening from our soil,” he said.
According to the Togolese government, eight soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an attack in northern Togo on Wednesday
This was the first deadly raid on its territory by Islamist militants who have claimed thousands of lives in other West African countries like Mali and Burkina Faso.
Reports indicate that the attack by the heavily armed gunmen took place before dawn at an army post in the Kpendjal prefecture near the border with Burkina Faso, the government said in a statement sourced by Reuters.
Some security analysts suspect the attack may have been the work of a local al-Qaeda affiliate that is based in Mali.
